In December 1994 the European Council and the European Parliament considered a proposal from the European Commission to strengthen the co-operation with the Russian Federation in the area of Nuclear Material Accountancy and Control (NMAC). The Commission Services after extensive contacts with Russian Authorities identified this as a priority area and established a comprehensive assistance programme. The Overall Objective of this Programme was to support the Russian Federation to transform and reinforce the State System of Accountancy and Control of nuclear materials (SSAC).

This contract, signed in December 2000, forms a part of the comprehensive programme. It comprises three components which are three separate projects of the TACIS 1997 programme. Two of these projects are the continuation of the projects R5.01/96 & R5.03/96 (see contract 25661). The third component is the continuation of the project R5.04/96 (see contract 25336).

Project R5.01/97A: Establishment of the Russian Methodology and Training Centre (RMTC), Final Phase

Background

This project was the continuation of the projects R5.01/94 (see contracts 23425 and 23498), R5.01/95 (contract 24798) and R5.01/96 (contract 25661). It was the final phase of a larger Tacis project that aimed to “Establish the Russian Methodology and Training Centre (RMTC)” at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE), in Obninsk, to provide educational, training and technology transfer in the area of Nuclear Material Accountancy and Control (NMAC) for the major part of the Russian fuel cycle.

The tasks of the RMTC were the following:

• Education, training and technology transfer
• Development and testing of methods
• Calibration of instruments and test of procedures
• Traceability of field measurements to primary standards

The staff of nuclear facilities requiring training in support of their roles and responsibilities could comprise up to several thousand persons. Therefore, the selected approach for RMTC was:

• to familiarise top management staff members with the new concepts, and
• to train the trainers, and inspectorates; subsequently the trainers would train facility staff in NMAC.

Objective

The specific objective of this phase of the project was to finalise the assistance to the Russian Authorities to build a Russian Methodology and Training Centre (RMTC) that is capable of training NMAC experts.

This phase of the project for the establishment of the RMTC comprised three sub-activities:

1. Technical co-ordination and monitoring, including:

• Development of a report on the RMTC achievements.

2. Completion of the structures of the RMTC (equipment procurement and installation to complete the Training Centre in Obninsk):

• Preparation of the detailed technical specifications for the equipment to be tendered (multimedia training packages, computer based training development tools and training equipment),
• Bid evaluation, equipment supply follow-up, test and technical reception;

3. Conducting training courses and seminars:

• Development of the new training courses and the manuals for these new courses (e.g. on new instrumentation such as hybrid K-edge for U concentration measurement in solutions of spent fuel),
• Delivery of the training courses and seminars

The multimedia training packages, computer based training development tools and training equipment were procured through competitive tendering under a separate TACIS project. For information on the equipment supply contract see R5.11/03S (contract 76781).

Results

The objectives specified in the Terms of reference were successfully achieved. A Quality Assurance Programme was established, consensus reached on results with special attention given to reporting.

The following results were achieved:

• The Final Report on RMTC's achievement was issued in May 2004 and provided an excellent overview of its activities and capabilities and its future perspective.
• Detailed specifications of multimedia training equipment for the Training Centre were ready in July 2004.
• At RMTC, four training courses on Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) techniques and advanced statistics were held with typically 10-12 trainees and the fourth tripartite seminar (RF/EC/US) was held at IPPE on Assessment of Nuclear Material Content and Inventory in By-product Streams (14-18/10/02) with 72 experts.
• Additionally, through a local subcontract, the NDA laboratory in IPPE building 169 was modernised with power supply, lighting, ventilation, radioactivity control, and alarm systems (nuclear accident, fire and security).

The tender for the multimedia training equipment was originally programmed under the TACIS 1997 programme (R5.01/97A-S) but was reprogrammed under Action Programme 2003 (R5.11/03S), resulting in some delay in its procurement and delivery. However, the equipment, worth €149 117 in total, was finally delivered to the Beneficiary, installed and put into operation. For further information on the equipment supply contract, see R5.11/03S (contract 76781).

Rosatom as Project Partner and IPPE as Beneficiary highly appreciated the project results. Supported by EC and US DoE funding and coordination, the Centre was operational at the time of the closure of the project. At that time, RMTC staff had been providing training to Rosatom, NPP experts and Rostechnadzor inspectors already for several years. This project successfully contributed to the completion of the six laboratories at IPPE equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, hardware and software for training on: computerized control and accounting, NDA techniques and instruments, scale calibration, bar-code techniques, tank calibration, and containment and surveillance.

By the end of the project the curriculum consisted of 41 courses covering all major NMAC subjects. In preparing the courses intellectual resources of Russian and western (EU and US) specialists were widely used. The more generic topics included: fundamentals, physical inventory taking, reporting, NMAC at NPPs, cargo control.

Since training started in 1995, about 3000 persons mainly from Russia received training in more than 400 courses. Furthermore some 130 specialists from 28 Russian facilities were trained as instructors (train the trainer courses). RMTC was performing research and had organised six international conferences.

In addition to routinely used NMAC equipment, RMTC operated some highly advanced equipment (e.g. calorimeter for Pu assay in samples, hybrid K-edge densitometer for solution monitoring) which allows RMTC and senior NMAC experts to provide substantiated expert advice on the possible introduction of such devices for future needs at Rosatom facilities.

RMTC had established itself as a highly respected national and international centre for training on NMAC techniques and methods.

Project R5.01/97C: Establishment of production strategy of instrumentation for state system of accounting and control of nuclear materials of the Russian Federation, Phase 3

Background

This project was the continuation of the projects R5.03/95 (see contract 24798) and R5.03/96 (contract (25661). As such, it was aimed at continuing the activities which had been started in the frame of those previous projects and enabling the Russian industry to produce the instrumentation necessary for the SSAC of Nuclear Materials. This included the establishment of a Masterplan, the key advisory document on a Russian industrial production of NMAC instruments in order to create the logistics, technical know-how, infrastructures and technical conditions, for manufacturing NMAC instrumentation by Russian companies in collaboration with EU companies. As a pilot, the project included the design and construction, through a separate TACIS supply contract, of two neutron instrument prototypes.

At the time of the project implementation, the supervisory management of the major part of the nuclear facilities came under the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation (MINATOM) During the project implementation, Minatom became the Federal Agency on Atomic Energy and later became Rosatom. MINATOM had previously assigned to the All Russia Research Institute of Automatics (Russian VNIIA), the role of monitoring the suitability and quality of instrumentation procured for NMA&C in the Russian Federation. A part of the work of this project was performed by VNIIA under subcontract from the Contractor.

The project was followed by the project R5.03/98 (see contract 30290).

Objective

The overall objective of the project (and indeed of the comprehensive programme of projects) was to contribute to the creation of the logistics, technical know-how, infrastructures and technical conditions to allow the Russian industry to produce the instrumentation necessary for the Nuclear Material Accountancy and Control (NMAC) system in the Russian Federation, and to consider the value of joint manufacturing / collaboration with EU industry.

The specific objectives of the comprehensive programme were to:

• Evaluate instrumentation needs throughout the Russian fuel cycle;
• Review available Russian and foreign instrumentation;
• Recommend development priorities and define manufacturing specifications (for the present contract: two prototype active neutron measurement devices);
• Recommend infrastructure for measurement quality control;
• Analyse factors affecting potential collaboration with EU industry.

Additional specific objectives of the present contract were to:

• Issue the final version of the Masterplan document, taking into account any comments following submission of the draft version to the Russian government and industrial authorities in the framework of the previous contract (25661);
• Design and procure (under TACIS project R5.01/97C-S, in collaboration with the PA), two neutron instrument prototypes, i.e. active interrogation devices:

o Assessment of detailed characteristics needed for the Russian fuel cycle conditions;
o Development of the detailed technical specifications for the tender for procurement of the devices (under TACIS project R5.01/97C-S);
o Technical and financial evaluation of the offers for the mini-series;
o Follow-up of the supply contract(s)
o Development of testing procedure for evaluation of the prototypes;
o Execution of the test procedure for the prototype devices;
o Assessment and interpretation of the test results.

• Provide technical coordination and monitoring of the activities of the project.

Regarding the instrument prototypes to be designed, and procured through the TACIS project R5.01/97C-S, these devices were similar to the active interrogation system to be procured under TACIS project R5.03/96C (see contract 25661). Therefore, it was decided to combine the two equipment supply projects into one tender procedure. This tender procedure therefore included:

• Three active interrogation systems (2 from project R5.01/97C-S and one from project R5.03/96C) using a pulsed neutron generator for measurement of 235U and/or 239Pu in standard 220 litre waste drums containing waste material of a non-homogeneous nature with possibly low to medium amounts of nuclear material. The instruments would be suitable for measuring during activities of both accountancy and verification of accountancy. The three instruments were intended to be delivered to three different facilities in the towns of Zhelesnogorsk (Mining and Chemical Combine) in the East Siberian region, Seversk (Siberian Chemical Combine) in the Central Siberian region and Ozersk (Mayak) in the Ural region.
• One passive neutron instrument (from project R5.03/96C) for bulk PuO2 powder cans. The instrument would be suitable for measuring during activities of both accountancy and verification of accountancy.

Results

One of the main results of the project was the preparation and issue of the final version of the Masterplan. The Masterplan was a “comprehensive programme” on the technical requirements for a successful production strategy for instrumentation appropriate to the needs of the Russian State System of Accounting and Control (SSAC). The Masterplan provided advice to Rosatom and the Russian government on this subject.

Apart from addressing the technological and operational aspects, the Masterplan provided a ten-year development policy for the production in Russia of instrumentation equipment.

The final version of the Masterplan was approved by the Russian authorities in 2002, after Russian regulatory objectives in accountancy and auditing had been formulated, agreed and issued.

With regard to the equipment supply project R5.01/97C-S (combined with project R5.03/96C, see above), for the supply of three active and one passive neutron instrument prototypes, the technical specifications were prepared, the call for tender was launched and the tenders were evaluated. However, the successful tenderer subsequently declined to sign the supply contract and the equipment could not be purchased. The EC decided to cancel the tender procedure and it was not relaunched.

For the next phase of the project see follow-on project R5.03/98 (see contract 30290).

 Project R5.01/97D (sometimes called R5.04/97): Establishment of the Ural Siberian Methodology and Training Centre (UrSiMTC) for Nuclear Materials Accounting and Control, Phase 2

Background

This project covers the implementation phase of the Ural-Siberian Methodology and Training Centre (UrSiMTC), further to the feasibility study produced under the previous project R5.04/96 (see contract 25336). It forms part of the Tacis comprehensive programme for the establishment of the Ural-Siberia Methodology and Training Centre (UrSiMTC).

At the time of the project implementation, the supervisory management of the major part of the nuclear facilities came under Rosatom. In this context Rosatom selected the Russian Federation Nuclear Centre - All Russia Research Institute of Technical Physics (Russian RFNC-VNIITF) as the host site for the UrSiMTC.

There are a number of nuclear industry enterprises in the Ural-Siberian region: in Ozersk, Novouralsk etc. These enterprises’ activities are consistent with enrichment, fuel fabrication and reprocessing. The UrSiMTC will focus on the Nuclear Materials Accounting and Control (NMAC) methods and equipment needed for installations at the back end of the fuel cycle cycle and for facilities for processing and storing nuclear materials.

The project was followed by the project R5.04/98 (see contract 47465).

Objective

The overall objective of the project (and indeed of the comprehensive programme of projects) was to establish the Ural Siberian Methodology and Training Centre at VNIITF, Snezhinsk, Cheliabinsk Region, aimed at providing a focal point for technology transfer and training in advanced Nuclear Materials Accounting and Control (NMAC) techniques, mainly related to the back end of the fuel cycle for the fuel cycle installations in the Ural-Siberian region.

The specific objectives of the project were:

• To provide the UrSiMTC with a pilot storage laboratory for Pu dioxide (instruments, methodologies, appropriate laboratory and training facilities), as detailed in the first phase (feasibility) study (project R5.04/96 – contract 25336). This module would be used for demonstrating NMAC technology applied for plutonium storage, as well as for training facility personnel responsible for implementing NMAC in such storage facilities;
• To provide suitable training to future UrSiMTC trainers, in the overall concepts of NMAC in storage facilities and in the use of the specific equipment and software installed in the Pu laboratory;
• To investigate NMAC methodological, technological and training needs for the nuclear fuel cycle activities in the Ural-Siberian region, in particular for the spent fuel storage, and to analyse the role of the UrSiMTC in the region.

The tasks of the project comprised:

• Task 1: Preparatory work:

o Kick-off meeting and work planning;
o Study of the nuclear fuel cycle in the Ural-Siberian region, its anticipated evolution and related training needs

• Task 2: Development of the detailed technical specifications for the spent fuel laboratory;
• Task 3: Implementation of the Pu storage laboratory:

3.1 Creation of physical laboratory space and refurbishment of rooms;
3.2 Development of a computerised nuclear material accountancy and control (NMAC) system (hardware and software), integrated with access control;
3.3 Preparation of procurement technical specifications, tender evaluations, procurement follow-up, testing and installation of Non Destructive Assay (NDA) equipment, sealing and tagging equipment, monitoring and surveillance equipment and computer hardware for the computerised NMAC system;

• Task 4: Training of the beneficiary and end user personnel;
• Task 5: Production of the Final Report

It was intended that the equipment to be specified as part of Task 3 would be purchased under a separate project of the TACIS 1997 programme (R5.01/97D-S).

Results

After completion of task 1 ‘Preparation of work’, project activities were focused around the major activities of tasks 2, 3 and 4.

Task 2 - Development of the detailed specifications for the laboratory. The detailed design of the Pu laboratory included an identification of functions to be covered in the laboratory, a description of the structure, and a selection of the technology required to implement determined functions and equipment. The laboratory was intended to model a real plutonium dioxide store. The task report was issued at the end of 2002.

Task 3 - Implementation of the Pu storage laboratory. The repair of the room for the Pu laboratory was completed, and the final report was issued in 2002.

The development of the training version of the Computerized Nuclear Material Control and Accounting System (CNMC&A) for the UrSiMTC was completed and the final report was issued in March 2003. The CNMC&A structure includes:

• Local computer network including the system server, the CNMC&A automated working place;
• Operational system as a functioning environment;
• Database management system in the client-user mode;
• Application software;
• Personnel training documentation;
• Operation documentation.

The equipment for the computerised NMAC system was purchased by direct negotiation. The shipment of the first part was implemented in 2002-2003. Part of the computerised training accounting and control system for ultrasonic seals and identifiers was delivered to RFNC-VNIITF in November 2003.

The second part was delayed due to the problems related to the certification required by the Russian customs and was delivered after the end of the present service contract.

Under task 3.3, the contractor prepared procurement technical specifications for 10 lots of equipment for the pilot Pu storage laboratory comprising:

• Lot 1: gamma-spectrometer;
• Lot 2: set of proximity equipment;
• Lot 3: hand geometry identification device;
• Lot 4: personnel access control booth;
• Lot 5: set of barcode printing, scanning/reading and data acquisition equipment;
• Lot 6: set of container marking equipment;
• Lot 7: combined NM monitor and metal detector;
• Lot 8: 4 electronic scales;
• Lot 9: passive neutron coincidence counting system;
• Lot 10: video surveillance system with 3 cameras.

The tender could not be launched within the time limits for the TACIS 2007 programme and the equipment supply was reprogrammed in the TACIS 2003 programme (project R5.13/03S). However, further delays, partly due to the need for substantial revisions of the technical specifications, meant that the tight deadline for contracting under the 2003 programme also could not be met and the tender procedure was cancelled. It was not reprogrammed.

Task 4 - Training of the beneficiary and end user personnel. During the first quarter of 2002 two groups of Russian experts were trained according to the ‘ultrasonic seals programme’ at Ispra. The appropriate session was included in the developed UrSiMTC “temporary identification devices” (TID) course. The two training sessions were held in UrSiMTC on the themes related to electronic scales and TID in 2003.

For the next phase of the project see follow-on project R5.04/98 (contract 47465).